HUNGARIAN REQUEST: HAGUE CODE OF CONDUCT AGAINST

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000028 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR T/ISN AND EUR/NCE MARC NORDBERG E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2012 TAGS: KACT PARM PREL UNGA RU HU SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN REQUEST: HAGUE CODE OF CONDUCT AGAINST BALLISTIC MISSILE PROLIFERATION Classified By: POL/ECON Counselor Eric Gaudiosi; reasons 1.4 (a, b, d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. ¶2. (U) MFA Security and Non-Proliferation Deputy Head of Department, Gabor Horvath, requested a meeting with PolOff on 7 January to discuss a UNGA First Committee issue related to the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC). Horvath stated that Hungary introduced the subject Hague Code of Conduct as an agenda item for action in the First Committee in 2005 and planned to do so again in 2007. However, according to Horvath, Hungary did not introduce the item for action in 2007 because Bosnia indicated they would introduce the agenda item but then failed to do so. ¶3. (C) Continuing, Horvath provided a copy of a Russian Government position paper, advising HCOC authorities in Vienna in late December 2007 that they are suspending from January 2008, for an initial one year period, Pre-launch Notification (PLN) as outlined in the agreement. Horvath also provided a copy of a German Government position paper calling for the January 17 meeting of the EU Committee on Non-Proliferation to address the PLN issue based on U.S. non-implementation of obligations related to pre-launch notification and the recent Russian Government suspension announcement. The German paper advocates a EU Presidential demarche to both Russia and the United States. ¶4. (C) Drawing upon the preceding information, Horvath noted the Hungarian Government's interest in introducing the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation as an agenda item during the fall 2008 First Committee session. However, based on the current state of play within the HCOC, Horvath stated Hungary's desire to first hold bi-lateral discussions with Russia, the United States and France to determine if there is merit in pursuing the HCOC as a First Committee agenda item this year. ¶5. (C) Horvath requests U.S. views on the proposed bi-lateral discussions on the First Committee agenda item before proceeding. LEVINE